Melvin: Colon is likely DL-bound
The Oakland A's made no official announcement about Bartolo Colon on Tuesday, but manager Bob Melvin said it's pretty certain that the right-hander will go on the disabled list at some point this week.
Colon left his Sunday start in the third inning due to a strained right oblique muscle.
The A's are weighing possible moves. Should they want Tyson Ross to take Colon's spot, as expected, they only may bring Ross back from Class AAA Sacramento to take the spot of an injured starter, because Ross was demoted Sunday. Except in the event of an injury, players must stay in the minors 10 days after being sent down.
Should the A's decide to place Colon on the DL sooner -- say, Thursday, when reliever Jordan Norberto (shoulder) is expected to come off the DL -- they would then need to choose another starter for Saturday besides Ross. Graham Godfrey would be the other top option at Sacramento.
Norberto worked a scoreless inning, striking out two, in a rehab appearance with Sacramento on Tuesday.
Oakland's other starter dealing with health issues, right-hander Brandon McCarthy, pitched on 11 days' rest Tuesday and threw seven scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who only had one man get past first base in the Athletics' 3-0 win.
McCarthy, battling chronic shoulder trouble, is expected to continue to need occasional extra days of rest the remainder of the season.
